Summertime!!!

Words cannot describe how HAPPY I am
that we have finally gotten ahold of some gorgeous weather!

This time, right now . . . this exact "moment" of the year, is my absolute favorite.
We've gotten past the drizzly June days, and are moving right into a whole lotta Summer fun.

I cannot begin to tell you the happiness that is opening our windows wide at night to let in the cool Summer breeze.  Seeing the daisies in bloom everywhere.  Fresh berries.
Oh, I just love it!

We have camp-outs, and barbecues, and birthdays, and day trips, and playdates to look forward to.

And pool time.
 

Lots and lots of pool time. 

 

 

 Ahhhh, I love Summertime!

 

 

 

 

 

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday ~Spring Recital, 2013

 My gorgeous dancers . . .

Makenna ~ Hip Hop 2: Let's Get It Started

  

 Sierra ~ Lyrical: Every Rose Has Its Thorn
 

And a McDonald's celebration afterward with some dear friends!!
 

 

 

   

 

 

Celebrations, Sleepovers, & Sickies

 I'm going through pictures, and I realize ~ I'm so far behind!

What's new, though, right?

So.

Miss Tay celebrated a birthday last week.
{And so did I, but let's not linger on that fact}.
 

She was so excited to open presents all by herself like a big girl.

We started the morning with a few presents from the sissies and Mama and Daddy.

And moved on to Strawberry Shortcake-making later in the afternoon.
 

Then came a small celebration that evening . . .

Taylor was perfectly pleased to be modeling her new princess attire.

 

The following day we had friends over for a sleepover, since Jeremy was at work.

They were so sweet to bring the makings for homemade pizza, and even a birthday cake for me!

 

 

And do you know how we repaid them?
By passing along a stomach bug :(
Ugh.  I feel terrible about that.
Kenners hadn't felt well earlier in the week, but it had been a couple of days since she'd been sick, and none of my other girlies seemed to get it, so we thought we were safe.

Not so.
The day after the sleepover Sierra came down with it . . .
Then Kam, then Taylor, and finally . . . me.
I probably don't have to remind anyone that I'm scared to death of vomit.
After this incident a couple years ago . . . yeah.

But.  I *think* we are finally all on the mend. 
Not 100%, but definitely feeling better.

Birthday parties, sleepovers, sickies . . .

And, oh yeah . . .

This guy:
 

 

Mr. Coyote, hangin' out RIGHT by the chicken coop!
They're getting awfully friendly these days :/


And I can't resist one of Miss Soph:
She finds the most interesting places to nap.
She's SUCH a stinker.
But she's a cute stinker.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

♥ Happy 2nd Birthday, Miss Taylor Grace ♥

 Happy 2nd Birthday, to my fourth baby girl ~ Miss Taylor Grace!

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

Time is so odd in the way that it both seems like just yesterday your were born, AND seems like you've been with us forever, all at the same time.
 

Your sisters were so excited to meet you.

 

Your very first car ride, going home.
It's kind of strange, but the one thing that sticks out to me 
was that we had to stop by Coastal to pick up chicken feed. 
Such a contrast to bringing home Sierra, as first time parents,
when we just wanted to get home and hibernate for a few months.
I guess by baby #4 we gave in to the fact that life continued on, responsibilities and all.

 

 

 

 Your first birthday came so fast!
 

And you continued to grow like a weed.
 

And then, practically overnight, you weren't a baby anymore.
 

You became a little girl.
 

A very opinionated little girl . . . ;)
 

Happy 2nd birthday, Taylor!
I can't wait to make more memories with you this year.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Reminder

 

 

 

 

  I establish my covenant with you:
Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood . . .

Genesis 9:11

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What a wonderful reminder . . .
especially during those "stormy" seasons.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the most wonderful daddies I know . . . 


My hubs

  

 

 
He lives with five girls.
Five.
And he hardly ever runs away.
I seriously admire him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Dad

 

He is so loving and attentive to his granddaughters.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My other Dad
{aka Jeremy's Dad}

 

He gives the greatest hugs!
And . . .
He brings ice cream.
All.the.time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Papa

 

 

 

He always comes up to me, puts his cold hands in mine and says, "Cold hands, Warm Heart".
And it couldn't be more true.
He has the warmest heart ♥

Happy Father's Day to the infinitely many special Dads out there!

 

 

 

 

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday ~ Flashin' Back

Nearly two years ago . . .  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Little Getaway

Ahhh, all rested up from our mini getaway.
I think one of the things I love most about getting away is coming home.
I love to be home.
I love my bed.
I love routine.
I just love familiarity.

So.
We spent a couple of days in Sunriver last week.
Jeremy had a conference to attend, and the girls and I had a free schedule, so away we went!

It just so happens that Papa {Jeremy's Gramps} was there for the same conference . . .
. . . and it was his birthday!

We had a nice little BBQ gathering at our place.
What a lovely evening.
Perfect weather.
Perfect company.

And before I go any further . . .
I was still without Miss Lily.
So all of the following photos were taken with my iPhone {and a couple with one of my very first digital cameras}.  It's not about the quality, it's about the memories {I have had to repeat this to myself many a time over the last couple of weeks}.


 Papa and his Great Granddaughters
 

We found the coolest little nest right outside our door.
We tried not to disturb the Mama too much, but every time we'd leave the house, she'd fly out,
perch in a tree, and keep her eye on our every move.
I didn't blame her.
 

There was a little of this from Tay . . .
 

And a little of this for the rest of everyone:
 

Hawaiian Shave Ice . . . the perfect accompaniment to an 88 degree day.
 

We even took a little drive up to Crane Prairie ~
One of Jeremy's most favorite spots.

 

 

 There's Miss Kenners, and my Mama-in-law, snappin' away at the beautiful scenery.

Yep, it was a much needed little vacay.
And now we are happy to be home.
In our own beds :)

 

 

 

 

Lily

Lily {my camera} is still gone :(
I called Canon yesterday, and they *still* hadn't received her.
{Turns out they only go to the post office to pick up packages twice a week!  That would have been helpful information to have when I was asking for specifics about shipping}
The lady I talked to told me it could take several days after they receive her, for her to be put in the system.  Then another 7 days until the repair . . . .
And I love my iPhone.  But I hate my iPhone camera.
There.
I said it.

So.
Not much picture-taking going on here :)

This one is from a couple of weeks ago.
And I have to share, because . . . really, isn't it a crime to submit a blog post without a photo?

 

 

Another busy week ahead of us!
We're preparing for a quick trip with Jeremy for a telephone board conference.
Graduations and parties and all sorts of celebrations this weekend . . .
It looks like June is going to be busy, busy, busy.